Listen up: Dementia linked to hearing loss

7:45 PM,
Jan. 22, 2013

Written by

Janice Lloyd
USA Today

Millions of hearing-impaired older adults are more likely to suffer early memory and thinking problems than adults without hearing loss, a study out today finds.

Cognitive problems developed 30 percent to 40 percent faster when hearing declined to 25 decibels - mild hearing loss, according to the research online in the JAMA Internal Medicine. "That's when you begin noticing trouble hearing and understanding in settings like a busy restaurant," says lead author Frank Lin.

Estimates vary on the number of people in the United States who have some degree of hearing loss, but they range from ...